The Friends of Coal petition continues to collect signatures to protect America’s coal jobs. The petition has been online for about two months and has already collected more than 9,000 letters of opposition to the rule through our convenient online tool.

The online tool allows you to file your comments calling on EPA to rescind its job-killing regulations that are halting the construction of new coal-fired power plants and essentially forcing the closure of existing plants.  The letters are sent directly to the EPA’s official comments email address.

The comments period closes October 16th.  We need to generate more letters supporting America’s coal mining jobs.

If you have not already done so, please visit the online petition and add your support at www.friendsofcoal.org/soundoff.  We need your help and we hope you will do it today!

The second webinar on the EPA proposed Clean Power Plan will be on September 17, 2014.  EPA has also prepared a video overview of the regulations. It is available at //www.americancoalcouncil.org/link.asp?e=braney@wvcoal.com&;job=1480199&ymlink=2625811&finalurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eyoutube%2Ecom%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DCDJGspRbIA4" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDJGspRbIA4. 

Miners, community members and others connected with the state's coal mining industry will gather at Tamarack in Beckley on Thursday, Oct. 2, for the 2014 Miners' Celebration, a gala reception and dinner to celebrate the past, present and future of West Virginia's coal mining enterprise.  According to organizers, the purpose of the annual event is to recognize those who play a role in the success of the state's mining enterprise.

Alpha Natural Resources is sponsoring the “Scramble for Scouting Golf Classic” on September 22, 2014 at Berry Hills Country Club to raise funds for the Boy Scouts of America Buckskin Council’s mentoring and outdoor education programs.  MORE THAN EVER, AMERICAN FAMILIES NEED SCOUTING’S POSITIVE INFLUENCE.  There are a number of raffle/auction items you can win at this event:  Hole-in-One Contest for a BMW X3 28i; foursomes at about every golf course in the area; airline tickets within the Continental U.S.; golf accessories, just to name a few.   There are two flights: 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., shotgun starts.  Lunch will be provided for both flights at noon.  A registration form is available from sdavison@wvcoal.com.

The public outreach effort of the Friends of Coal continued this past week with two events.  WVCA Senior Vice President Chris Hamilton spoke this week’s breakfast meeting of the Vandalia Rotary Club in Charleston.  Hamilton talked to the crowd about the current state of West Virginia’s coal industry, as well as the impact of the Obama Administration’s GHG standards on the economy of the state. Hamilton then took questions from the crowd.  All-in-all it was an excellent turnout and event.         

WVCA ‘s Executive Staff also attended the 100th Anniversary of the West Virginia Mining Extension Service in Morgantown on Thursday.

“That West Virginia’s flagship university has had a mining training program in place for 100 years clearly shows the importance of the industry to the state and the nation,” WVCA President Bill Raney said. “It has trained tens of thousands of the nation’s best miners over its history – people who have literally helped build this nation and we are proud to have been part in this celebration.”